Wales V New Zealand Facts

23 November 2002 11:09am

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Some interesting facts from WALES v NEW ZEALAND Tests ...(although they are probably make better reading for the Kiwis)

* The two sides have met 17 times over 98 years. After Wales' 13-8 victory in 1953, the scoreline read 3-1 in favour of the Dragons. A 49-year drought and 13 straight wins to New Zealand since then have turned that scoreline into 3-14.

* In the past 25 years, the two sides have met eight times, with the All Blacks winning the lot. New Zealand have romped in for 301 points (43 tries) in those eight Tests. In reply, Wales have scored 58 points, including just three tries. That's an average scoreline of 37-7 to New Zealand.

* John Devereux (1987), Jonathan Davies (1988) and Nigel Walker (1997) are the only players to score for Wales in a Test against New Zealand in the past quarter of a century.

* Only 11 Welshmen have scored a Test try against New Zealand. Of those, only one - winger Geoffrey Jones in Wales' 13-12 win in 1935 - has scored
two. All Black legend John Kirwan picked up eight tries in three Tests against Wales.

* It's been 24 years since Wales made it into double figures against New Zealand, losing 12-13 in the "lineout dive" test in Cardiff.

* Wales held New Zealand scoreless in the very first game between the teams in 1905. The All Blacks have kept Wales scoreless three times - in 1924, 1963 and 1969.

* New Zealand's biggest winning margin is 49 points (52-3 in 1988), while Wales' biggest win is five points (13-8 in 1953). New Zealand's highest score came in their 54-9 win in 1988, while Wales' highest score came in their 16-19 loss in 1972.

* New Zealand have scored more than 30 points in the past six games against Wales.

* This will be the teams' 10th meeting in Cardiff, with New Zealand winning six of the nine so far.

* Of Wales' autumn squad, only Gareth Llewellyn (three times), Neil Jenkins (twice) and Gareth Thomas (twice) have played the All Blacks in a Test. Of the New Zealand squad, only Jonah Lomu (twice), Andrew Mehrtens (twice), Christian Cullen and Taine Randell have played against Wales.

* Phil Bennett (12) has scored the most points for Wales against New Zealand, while Grant Fox (69) holds the All Black record against the Dragons.

* All Black debutant flanker Daniel Braid is the son of former New Zealand lock Gary Braid.

* Jonah Lomu will play his 63rd Test against Wales, equalling John Kirwan's New Zealand record for a winger.

* New Zealand's only appearance at the Millennium Stadium was the third-place playoff against South Africa at the 1999 World Cup.

* All Black assistant coach Robbie Deans is the great-nephew of Bob Deans, who had a "try" disallowed in New Zealand's 0-3 loss to Wales in the first
ever Test between the two teams.

* All Black fullback Fergie McCormick scored a then-world record 24 points in his side's 33-12 win over Wales in Auckland in 1969.

* The 1972 Test between the two countries - best remembered for All Black prop Keith Murdoch being sent home after the match - was the first rugby
match to be televised live by satellite back to New Zealand.

* The most recent Test between the two - the 1997 match at Wembley - was All Black legend Sean Fitzpatrick's 92nd and last Test.

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